Abstract
Background: Disasters are devastating incidents, especially when occurring suddenly and causing damage, great loss of life, or suffering. Disasters can affect health and the social and economic development of a nation. The article analyzes the knowledge (K), attitude (A), and readiness to practice (rP) of healthcare professional students in universities in Pakistan. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study using a pretested and validated self-administered disaster medicine and preparedness questionnaire. The study recruited 310 students. Responses were scored and categorized as high (75th quartile), moderate (75–25th quartiles), and low (25th quartile). Independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and regression analyses were performed at an alpha level of 0.05. Results: The study found that most of the students had moderate knowledge, attitude, readiness to practice, and total KArP scores. All K, A, and rP scores were significantly correlated with overall KArP scores. Knowledge and attitude factors were significant predictors of readiness to practice. Conclusions: We strongly believe that educators and health policymakers should build a strong curriculum in disaster medicine management and preparedness to prepare competent future healthcare professionals for the nation.
Highlights
Incidents are situations that may lead to disruptions, losses, emergencies, or crises
We evaluated the knowledge, attitude, and readiness to practice among healthcare profession students in several universities in Pakistan regarding disaster medicine management and preparedness
These scores reconcile the aspects of the literature that show evidence of lack of knowledge, positive attitude, and level of readiness to practice among healthcare profession students, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)
Summary
Incidents are situations that may lead to disruptions, losses, emergencies, or crises. Attaining high standards of health and wellbeing is among one of the basic human rights documented in various regional, national, and international documents. Ensuring this right means easy access to essential medicines to treat chronic and communicable (e.g., water-borne or vector-borne) diseases during disasters [2]. The article analyzes the knowledge (K), attitude (A), and readiness to practice (rP) of healthcare professional students in universities in Pakistan. Results: The study found that most of the students had moderate knowledge, attitude, readiness to practice, and total KArP scores. Conclusions: We strongly believe that educators and health policymakers should build a strong curriculum in disaster medicine management and preparedness to prepare competent future healthcare professionals for the nation
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